28-man roster assembled by Team Israel Manager Jerry Weinstein, features 20 affiliated players and includes 9 players with MLB experience
Tel Aviv-The Team Israel 28-man roster was announced by the World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) in late August for the Brooklyn, New York WBC Qualifier, which will be played September 22-25 at MCU Park, home of the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League. Israel will play the national teams of Brazil, Great Britain and Pakistan. The winner of the Qualifier will advance to compete in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the fourth installment of the tournament featuring many of the world’s greatest players.
Team Israel will be managed by Jerry Weinstein, who served as the manager of the Cape Cod League’s Wareham Gatemen. Prior to his current role, Weinstein spent nine seasons as a coach in the Colorado Rockies organization.
Israel made its WBC debut during the 2012 Qualifying Round and went 2-1, falling to Spain in the final game of the Qualifier. The squad will include 2009 All-Star pitcher and New York native Jason Marquis, former Mets infielders Ike Davis and Josh Satin, and Connecticut native and former Red Sox pitcher Craig Breslow. The team will also feature 20 currently affiliated players, including left-handed pitchers Alex Katz (CWS), Jared Lakind (PIT), R.C. Orlan (WSH) and Ryan Sherriff (STL); right-handed pitchers Corey Baker (STL), Brad Goldberg (CWS), Tyler Herron (NYM), Dean Kremer (LAD), Troy Neiman (COL), Joey Wagman (OAK) and Josh Zeid (NYM); infielders Scott Burcham (COL), Cody Decker (BOS), Nate Freiman (BOS) and Ty Kelly (NYM); outfielders Zach Borenstein (ARI), Michael Meyers (BOS) and Rhett Wiseman (WSH); and catchers Ryan Lavarnway (TOR) and Nick Rickles (WSH).
“This roster represents the most exciting group of players that we could assemble for the WBC qualifiers,” said Peter Kurz, President of the Israel Association of Baseball. “Four years ago, Team Israel was so close to qualifying for the 2012 WBC, so this year, we are determined not to let the opportunity pass us by. I am confident that manager Jerry Weinstein has selected an outstanding team that will take Israel all the way to the WBC in 2017. Our success will be very positive for the future development of baseball in Israel.”
The squad this time includes five Israelis: Dean Kremer and Shlomo Lipetz, pitchers; Tel Erel as the bullpen catcher; and Nate Fish and Alon Leichman as coaches, and reflects the continuing development of the baseball program in Israel since the last WBC when only three Israelis were involved. According to Kurz, “Based on our participation in the WBC four years ago, we capitalized by increasing the IAB ranks by over 40%: hiring our executive director, Nate Fish; opening the IAB Israel Academy; increasing participation of Israeli national teams, including winning the European Championship C pool and placing third in the B pool; and, with the help of the JNF Project Baseball, raising funds to build two new fields in Bet Shemesh and Ra’anana. This is the true value of participating in the WBC for Israel.”
The Qualifier will open on Thursday, September 22 with a doubleheader featuring Pakistan vs. Brazil and Great Britain vs. Israel. Earlier this year, teams from Australia, Colombia and Mexico advanced to the 2017 WBC after winning the previous three Qualifiers.
The winner of the Brooklyn Qualifier will advance to the 2017 World Baseball Classic and join the 15 countries – Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela – that have already received invitations based on their performance in the 2013 tournament or in prior qualifiers. The winner will be part of Pool B, which features the national teams of Chinese Taipei, Korea and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Pool B is scheduled for March 7-10 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea.
The Qualifiers were originally introduced prior to the 2013 World Baseball Classic, with games held in Panama City; Regensburg, Germany; Jupiter, Florida; and Taipei, Taiwan during the fall of 2012. The inaugural World Baseball Classic was held in 2006 prior to ensuing editions in 2009 and 2013.
For further details, please contact Margo Sugarman, IAB Secretary General, +972-52-338-9675; [email protected].
By JLNJ Staff
